Police Officer Involved Domestic Violence.
Lighting a candle of remembrance for those who've lost their lives to domestic violence behind the blue wall, for strength and wisdom to those still there, and a non-ending prayer for those who thought they had escaped but can't stop being afraid.

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

...When asked whether or not a report should have been filed, [San Francisco Police Chief Heather] Fong responded by saying "I can't respond to that because I was not at the scene"... Chief Fong says there are procedures to handle situations like this, but declined to elaborate... Authorities within the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the matter was mishandled and created an appearance of cover-up. "I think that there is an incident report that should have been made," said one of the authorities said. "This thing was bungled"...

SF Police investigate deputy's actionsABC7By Vic LeeJanuary 23, 2008[Excerpts] San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong has ordered an investigation into a possible domestic abuse incident involving a Deputy Chief's rookie son. 23-year-old rookie officer James Tacchini is the son of newly promoted Deputy Chief Stephen Tacchini... Early Sunday morning, police went to an apartment on the 300 block of King Street to investigate a 911 domestic violence call... a male friend of the woman made the 911 call, saying she had called him and that she was hysterical and felt threatened by Tacchini, who she said had at one point pushed her... Tacchini reportedly denied physically abusing the woman during an interview with a police sergeant at the apartment. The woman also told police the same thing. The Chronicle reports that a lieutenant, after being briefed at the scene, called Deputy Chief Tacchini and a police report was never filed. Police Chief Heather Fong found out about the incident Monday through an internal memo... The purpose of the investigation is to review not only the actions of officer Tacchini, but also the actions of the officers who responded to the scene. When asked whether or not a report should have been filed, Fong responded by saying "I can't respond to that because I was not at the scene." However, a police source tells ABC7 that a police report should have been written and that Deputy Chief Tacchini should have told Fong immediately that his son was involved in a police investigation. "There will be no cover up and the facts will be presented not only to the commission, but to the people of San Francisco," says Police Commissioner Yvonne Lee... Chief Fong says there are procedures to handle situations like this, but declined to elaborate...Did deputy chief's son get favorable treatment?No report filed in incident involving rookie police officerSan Francisco ChronicleJaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff WriterWednesday, January 23, 2008[Excerpts] ...Meanwhile, the 23-year-old officer has been placed on administrative duty... The report came from a friend of a woman who recounted that she had been threatened by an off-duty officer whom she had been dating. The caller said the woman had locked herself in a bedroom and the officer was in the bathroom. Police then spent more than an hour at the apartment... but left without having written any official report of the incident after the woman insisted she was not threatened or abused in any way. That decision came after an acting night commander consulted with Deputy Chief Tacchini about what to do about his rookie son.... Mayor Gavin Newsom learned of the matter on Tuesday, according to his spokesman Nathan Ballard. "The mayor backs the police chief's decisions," Ballard said... Once at the scene, according to an account provided to The Chronicle, Sgt. John Braganolo met the younger Tacchini, 23 - who was nearly finished with his field training at Southern Station and whose father is the newly promoted head of the SFPD's patrol bureau... The woman told the police that nothing happened... She later said that Tacchini was a "great guy and she did not know what happened to cause all this." More than an hour after police reportedly arrived, at 4:22 a.m., the case was closed without a police report being completed. Tacchini was not tested for alcohol consumption. The decision came after the acting night supervisor, Lt. Larry Minasian, responded to the scene... Minasian, after purportedly speaking to Deputy Chief Tacchini, explained to the woman that, based on her account, no criminal activity occurred... The woman repeatedly and adamantly emphasized there was no criminal activity... The woman's male friend made the 911 call and later arrived at the apartment. He wrote in his own account to police... Authorities within the department, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the matter was mishandled and created an appearance of cover-up. "I think that there is an incident report that should have been made," said one of the authorities said. "This thing was bungled"... Fong said Tuesday she had reviewed an account from someone at the scene that prompted questions in her mind...

Cop's wife charged in shootingVineland Daily Journal, NJBy JAMES P. QUARANTAjpquaranta@thedailyjournal.com1/31/2008MILLVILLE - The wife of an off-duty police officer was arrested early Wednesday for allegedly firing a shot from the officer's service weapon during a domestic dispute. Chernay Vazquez, 31, was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and criminal mischief. She was held on $20,000 bail... Lt. Franklin Jones, who is in charge of jail admissions, said Vasquez was still incarcerated at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Marvin Vazquez, 25, graduated from the police academy six weeks ago... All police departments require officers to immediately report any event when a service weapon is fired, and Vazquez apparently did not comply with that regulation. "This individual has been suspended without pay pending the final outcome of the investigation," said Commissioner David Vanaman, the city's public safety director. "We take this situation very seriously, and the matter will be fully investigated"... Chernay Vasquez allegedly fired one shot from the officer's .40 caliber handgun. Her husband was in the room at the time but may not have seen her actually fire the gun. The bullet went through a window and lodged in a house next door. No one was injured... "She indicated it was an accidental discharge"... Police learned about the shooting "in a roundabout way" around 2:30 a.m., according to [Chief Tom] Riley, who declined to say how the shooting came to light.

Previous entry:[IN] Deputy Lambert "resigns" in midst of 3 felony dv charges...he's charged with threatening to kill his girlfriend so she would have sex with him - telling her she deserved to die, restraining her, forcing her to touch him, and choking her - leaving red marks around her neck... Lambert is charged with felony sexual battery, felony criminal confinement, felony intimidation, domestic battery, and criminal recklessness...Judge considering ex-Clay deputy's new plea dealTerre Haute Tribune Star, INJanuary 29, 2008A new plea agreement was submitted Monday in the case of a former Clay County deputy who caused a 16-hour armed standoff with police at his home after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend in September 2006. Jonathan T. Lambert, 35, appeared before Judge Joseph Trout in Clay Circuit Court. Judge Trout will consider the agreement and either reject or accept it Feb. 22. Lambert has agreed to plead guilty to criminal recklessness, resisting law enforcement and intimidation, all class-D felonies, and domestic battery as a class-A misdemeanor. The plea recommends Lambert be incarcerated for a year and a half on the criminal recklessness and resisting law enforcement charges, and one year on the other charges, to be served at the same time. The proposal also recommends Lambert pay nearly $5,000 in restitution for costs incurred by police during the standoff. A different plea agreement was submitted in November, but the judge rejected it as "too lenient"... Lambert refused to surrender Sept. 22, 2006 after police tried to serve an arrest warrant that was issued in connection with the alleged crimes that reportedly began the night before. Some 60 police officers, including a SWAT team, Indianapolis police, conservation officers and deputies from Putnam, Vigo and Clay counties were involved. Authorities closed roads in the area and school buses were rerouted to avoid the area around Lambert's home. Lambert fired two shots during the incident, both into the ground.

Excerpts from some of the 2006 news articles:

Sep 26, 2006...The charges stem from an incident where Lambert is charged with threatening to kill his girlfriend so she would have sex with him. Lambert also is accused of forcing her to touch him and allegedly choking her, leaving red marks around her neck. Authorities have yet to disclose the contents of the arrest warrant that had been issued for Lambert before the standoff... and all court documents connected to the case have been sealed... Police set up a perimeter around Lambert's home and called the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team after he refused to exit the residence... About 60 law enforcement officers, including two SWAT teams, responded... Roadways were blocked... Indianapolis police officers, state conservation officers and deputies from Putnam, Vigo and Clay counties provided assistance... Three or four bus routes for Clay Community Schools were rerouted... Officers set up powerful lights to illuminate the home... Lambert came out of his home at about 2:15 p.m. carrying a long gun. He fired a round into the ground and then went back inside, state police said. About 20 minutes later, he came out again and fired a round from a handgun...

Sep 27, 2006 ...Court documents allege the following: Lambert restrained her, during which time she slapped him and spit in his face. Lambert contacted Brazil police and requested “an officer come and arrest her for assaulting an officer.” Lambert invited her to his home on Thursday evening, to “at least give him a hug”... he refused to allow her to leave, forced her to the ground and made sexual contact with her against her will... started to choke her and “told her he was going to kill her… and that she deserved to die.” The alleged victim made it outside and, at Lambert’s instructions, called her estranged husband. Lambert took her phone and car keys and eventually drove her car toward her, missing her...

Nov 6, 2006...The charges filed stem from Lambert's alleged attempt to confine his girlfriend without her consent inside his home on Friday. He allegedly used the threat of killing his girlfriend to get her to engage in sexual conduct against her will, as well as choked her and attempted to run over her with a vehicle... Clay County Sheriff Mike Heaton says he understands citizen`s feelings about Lambert`s continued paychecks. He says he is following strict procedures to avoid lawsuits down the line. He says there would be larger consequences if he suspended Lambert`s pay... "The dynamics of the whole thing could have been disastrous," said Putnam Sheriff Mark Frisbie, who responded to the scene... "Not only were they dealing with a police officer, but they were dealing with someone who is tactically trained"... Since Lambert could better anticipate what actions police were likely to take during the standoff, it made the situation more dangerous, Frisbie said.

I don't know why San Bernardino Police Detective Paul Lentz is no longer a detective but someone somewhere is still having to contend with him, even though his former department does not.

...Lentz threatened to kill the woman during the beating, prompting her to fire a shot at him, which missed. The victim fled to her family's home and police found Lentz half-naked and bloody down the street...

Former San Bernardino police officer arrested for attempted murderSANBERNARDINOPD.USJanuary 2008...A man who police say severely beat his former girlfriend was then shot by the woman and later arrested. Paul Lentz, 48, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga in lieu of $1 million bail. Redlands police came to an apartment complex at Sunday 7 a.m. on a report of a disturbance. They discovered Lentz punched his 38-year-old girlfriend in the face and threatened to kill her. The woman grabbed a revolver and fired one round at Lentz, prompting him to flee the apartment. Officers found the woman at a relative's house and Lentz near the corner of Barton Road and Nevada Street. Lentz was covered in blood...Redlands man arrested for attempted murder in assaultCity of Redlands websiteJanuary 23, 2008Police arrested a 48-year-old Redlands man for attempted murder following a New Year's Day assault on the man's former girlfriend... Once on scene, officers determined that the suspect, Paul Lentz, had severely beaten his 38-year-old former girlfriend about the face with his fists while threatening to kill her. During the assault, a wine glass was broken and both Lentz and the victim received lacerations. The victim was able to retrieve a revolver and fired one round at Lentz in self-defense. Lentz then fled the apartment... The victim was eventually located at a family member's residence. Lentz was also found a short time later, covered in blood, by an off-duty Redlands Police Officer... Lentz was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga for attempted murder. Bail has been set at $1 million. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Mike Reiss at (909) 798-7580.

Beating of woman leads to chargeswww.pe.comSan Bernardino County briefsPaul LaRocco plarocco@PE.com1/03/08A Redlands man was booked into jail on suspicion of attempted murder late Tuesday after his girlfriend was beaten and choked during a bloody New Year's Day fight, police said. Paul Robert Lentz, 48, was arrested after the 7 a.m. altercation at his girlfriend's apartment on Orange Avenue in Redlands. The 38-year-old victim and Lentz were cut by broken wine glasses... Lentz threatened to kill the woman during the beating, prompting her to fire a shot at him, which missed. The victim fled to her family's home and police found Lentz half-naked and bloody down the street. Both were treated at local hospitals, Baker said.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Pittsylvania County sergeant on administrative leave
WDBJ7
January 29, 2008
A seargent with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office is on administrative leave tonight. Kevin Wayne Barker lives in the Brights community of Pittsylvania County, and he has been with the department since 1996. He's charged with one count of assault and battery on a family member. Barker was in court Tuesday and released on a $500 bond.

Submitted update:

The Charge against Sgt. Kevin Barker were dismissed in J & D Court due to the fact that his wife exercised her 5th amnd. right not to testify. She choose to do that strictly due to the fact that on March 5, 5 weeks after the assult against his wife, Sgt. Barker filed charges against his wife for trespassing and Assult and Battery. His mistress, also a Pittsylvania County Deputy, also filed charges with him for two additional counts. A deal was offered by Sgt. Barker's Attorney, Glenn Berger, that his client and his mistress would not testify against his wife if she would choose not to testify against him. All four charges were false in nature and both oficers knew what information was needed to obtain the warents against his wife. This case proves that even when family members try to do the right thing that an officer can/will use their position for their own personal gain and that this is allowed by law enforcement agencies. Sgt. Barker and his mistress were fired from the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Office in Feb.for having the affair. Barker has been interviewed and has accepted a position at a local regional jail authority.[police officer-involved domestic violence cop-on-cop virginia state recant noncooperation]

..."It appears all of these factors contributed to the indictment being sought by the district attorney, and we applaud him for taking them seriously," she said. "Too often, we see those risk factors go without due diligence on the part of the court system."...

[MA] Judge & Chief protect Officer Moran 's officer ex-girlfriend...[Judge Mark] Coven ruled that the alcohol played no role in the domestic violence. He said the abuse was based on anger and control problems... [Milton Deputy Police Chief Paul] Nolan said the incident shows that every person in society - even a police officer - can become a victim...

Duxbury Officer Indicted for Assault with Intent to Murder
Duxbury Clipper
Adam Swift
Tue, Jan 29 2008 17:38
[Excerpts] A Duxbury police officer accused of assaulting his girlfriend has been indicted on 10 charges by a Norfolk County Grand Jury. Sean P. Moran, who is currently being held in the Dedham House of Corrections, was indicted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, intimidation of a witness, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, malicious destruction of property over $250, three counts of assault and battery and threatening to commit a crime... Moran is accused of assaulting his girlfriend, a Milton police officer, on two occasions in Quincy. In November, he allegedly slammed his girlfriend's head into a chain link fence following a surprise birthday party she threw for him, and in October, Moran allegedly wrestled his girlfriend to the ground at their Quincy home and pulled her service revolver on her... [Quincy District Court Judge Mark] Coven said he believed Moran presented a threat to his girlfriend and that he did not believe the violence could be solely attributed to Moran's drinking...

Officer indicted in abuse case
Girlfriend alleges beatings, threat
Boston Globe
By Milton J. Valencia
mvalencia@globe.com
January 23, 2008
[Excerpts] ...The girlfriend told police that the attack had been the latest of what she called ongoing abuse. The two had been dating for two years, she said, and in that time Moran threw her against a wall and broke furniture. Just weeks before the November incident, Moran allegedly pointed a gun at his girlfriend and ordered her to leave the home. Then, he pointed the gun at himself and said he would kill both of them if she ever told anyone. Toni Troop, a spokeswoman for Jane Doe Inc., a statewide coalition against domestic violence and sexual assault, said the case involving Moran and his girlfriend had all the makings of a relationship that could have turned more violent. His access to a gun and alleged history of violence were risk factors that should be taken seriously. "It appears all of these factors contributed to the indictment being sought by the district attorney, and we applaud him for taking them seriously," she said. "Too often, we see those risk factors go without due diligence on the part of the court system."

Duxbury cop indicted for assault, and threatening to kill his girlfriend
Duxbury Reporter
By Andria Farrell
Thu Jan 24, 2008, 11:49 AM EST
[Excerpts] ...the victim was hesitant about having Moran arrested because she feared for his well being... on a previous occasion Thursday, Oct. 18, the victim returned home around 2 a.m., during her shift at work, to walk her dog. The couple got into a heated argument and Moran wrestled her to the ground, removed her service revolver from its holster and threatened to kill her if she didn't leave. When she said she would report him, he threatened to kill himself he said. Assistant District Attorney Katherine Cappelli of the Norfolk District Attorney William Keating's office said at the hearing, the victim, who was not present, feared for her safety. She said over the course of the couple's three-year relationship the victim recounted at least five instances of abuse. Prior to the most recent incident Moran told the victim he would get help she said. Moran's attorney John Gugliemi, attempted to find a secure treatment facility for Moran as an alternative to jail, but could not find a secure location that satisfied the Coven's demands. Gugliemi argued that Moran's actions were a result of job stress, relationship stress, and the use of alcohol...[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence (IPV) abuse law enforcement public safety lethal massachusetts state suicide suicidal ticking time bomb]

Deputy charged with domestic violence remains on dutyKalamazoo GazetteBY REX HALL JR.rhall@kalamazoogazette.comTuesday, January 29, 2008 A Kalamazoo County sheriff's deputy has been charged with misdemeanor domestic violence over incident at his Portage residence, authorities said. Gregory J. Williams, 50, was arraigned Monday on the charge, which is punishable by up to 93 days in jail. Portage police Sgt. John Blue said officers arrested Williams after responding to a report of an assault at about 11:05 p.m. Saturday. Blue said the investigation continues, and he declined to elaborate. Kalamazoo County Sheriff Mike Anderson said an internal investigation was launched Monday by his department. He said Williams, a deputy in the jail who has been with the sheriff's department since 1982, will remain on duty as the probe continues. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Fink said Monday his office was in the process of filing paperwork with the Michigan Attorney General's Office to request that a special prosecutor from another county be assigned to the case.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Mrs. Shiver worked at Department of Corrections Calhoun Correctional Institution as a secretary specialist and had once been a correctional officer for the state.I couldn't find any personal information about her as a woman - beyond being a victim, and no family members were listed in any of the news articles.

A former local correctional officer will spend the rest of his life on the other side of the bars, sentenced to life in prison Tuesday for shooting his wife to death at the home of a Cottondale man.

Calhoun County resident Julian "Jack" Shiver was sentenced shortly after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the death of his long-estranged wife, Felisia Shiver, and to other charges.

Mrs. Shiver was fatally shot at the home of her friend Paul Barber Jr. on April 14, 2007.

According to authorities, Mr. Shiver kicked in the front door and forced his way into the house on Omaha Trail just before midnight that evening and shot his wife twice after a brief argument, the bullets striking her in the head.

He then turned the 9 mm handgun on Barber, who grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun and returned fire, authorities said.

Mr. Shiver was shot twice in the torso, and Barber was not injured.

Mrs. Shiver died of her injuries the following Friday at Flowers Hospital in Dothan.

Shiver was arrested on April 21 as he was released from the hospital and was initially indicted on a first-degree murder charge in August.

As part of Tuesday's negotiated plea, the charge was reduced from first to second degree.

He additionally pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted murder for firing at Barber, burglary while armed, and shooting into an occupied dwelling in the case. He was sentenced to life without parole on the first three charges and to 15 years on the last one.

Both the Shivers and Mr. Barber were employed by the Florida Department of Corrections at the time of the shooting.

Both men were correctional officers, Shiver working at Liberty Correctional Institution and Barber at Calhoun Correctional Institution. Mrs. Shiver worked at Calhoun CI as a secretary specialist and had once been a correctional officer for the state.

At his sentencing, Shiver's defense attorney Bob Sombathy asked the judge to recommend that his client be housed in federal custody rather than in a state facility like the one where he once worked.

Presiding Judge Michael Miller, who was filling in for Circuit Judge Bill Wright, agreed to make the recommendation but a final decision on that matter will be up to the federal prison system.[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder cop on cop florida state politics]

...The New Jersey police officers found rifles, ammunition, scopes, a ski mask and a bulletproof vest in the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu...

(Who are his victims? Where are they?)

Fugitive Ramapo officer arrested in N.J.The Journal NewsSteve LiebermanJanuary 29, 2008A Ramapo police officer out on paid injury leave for nearly 17 years has been arrested in New Jersey. Police said yesterday that James Curley, 43, was apprehended in a rental car, which was reported to be stolen, on arrest warrants on domestic-related and other charges in Ramapo and New Jersey communities. The New Jersey police officers found rifles, ammunition, scopes, a ski mask and a bulletproof vest in the 2007 Chevrolet Malibu... Ramapo police had been looking for Curley for several weeks because of the arrest warrants... Curley faces two counts of second-degree criminal contempt and two counts of bail jumping in Airmont Justice Court, Lynch said. A bench warrant also was issued for Curley's arrest in Suffern Justice Court on a charge of second-degree aggravated harassment. Curley, who is married with children but estranged from his wife, also faces criminal charges in New Jersey as a result of his arrest there Friday night... Curley was charged in New Jersey with aggravated assault on a police officer, receiving stolen property and hindering apprehension or prosecution. He also was charged as a fugitive from justice based on the New York arrest warrants. Before Friday's arrest, Curley also was wanted in New Milford, N.J., on a property crime charge and with failing to show up in court... He also had been charged in Emerson, N.J., with bail jumping after not showing up for court on a stalking charge and an accusation of violating a court order of protection... The department declined to hire Curley after his probation ended because of alleged bad behavior in the the Rockland Police Academy during training. Curley filed a lawsuit to get hired and the court ordered him reinstated with back pay in 1989. In the fall of 1990, Curley told the department that he hurt his ankle when he fell 8 inches from a plank used as a temporary walkway from the parking lot to the police station during construction. He went on disability leave under the New York State 207-c rules for police officers, which guaranteed him full pay tax free and benefits until he returned to duty or retired...

Detective can keep weapons after his arrestCrime - A Clackamas County officer goes to court after a fight with his wife Tuesday, January 29, 2008HOLLEY GILBERTThe Oregonian Staff[Excerpts] A Clackamas County Sheriff's Office major crimes detective will be allowed to keep his weapons despite being accused Monday of fourth-degree assault domestic violence in an incident involving his wife, with whom he has a 5-month-old baby. Steven P. Hyson, 41, appeared in Clark County District Court moments after Judge Vernon Schreiber issued a warrant for his arrest. Hyson arrived about 1:42 p.m., 15 minutes after the judge had noted Hyson had signed paperwork saying he would appear at 1 p.m. When Hyson appeared accompanied by Vancouver attorney Thomas C. Phelan, Schreiber quashed the warrant and one that would have held Hyson without bail. Hyson, a Vancouver resident, was arrested early Sunday but was later released on bail... When his wife got home about 2 a.m., the two argued. Hyson said she began slapping and punching him while he was holding the baby, spilling a cup of coffee and striking him in the face with an apple. She told deputies that he punched her in the left eye with an orange from the fruit bowl and a deputy noticed a slight redness under her eye, the reports said. She admitted verbally abusing him and slapping him once... Police indicated she thought her sister might have called 911... In court Monday, Phelan, the attorney, asked that in contrast to usual procedure, Hyson be allowed to retain his weapons because of his job and for his personal protection, and the judge agreed. Hyson owns a 9 mm semiautomatic Glock pistol and a 12-gauge Remington shotgun...

Clackamas officer accused of domestic violence in Clark CountyThe OregonianHolley GilbertJanuary 28, 2008 17:32PM[Excerpts] ...[Judge Vernon] Schreiber set arraignment for March 5. If convicted, Hyson faces a maximum penalty of a year in jail, $5,000 fine and the loss of his right to possess a firearm. He was ordered not to contact his wife of six months, but the two can communicate through a third party about their child, property and any potential divorce, the judge said... He is the president of the Clackamas County Peace Officers' Association, a non-profit labor organization representing the workers of the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and several other agencies. His term runs through 2010. In 2002, Hyson solved the "Sunnyside Rapist" case on his own time on his last day as a detective. He also was assigned to the Ward Weaver case involving two murdered Oregon City girls.

Detective Arrested In Domestic DisputeKOIN.com, OR1/28/2008[Excerpts] ...When both later returned to their home, a fight broke out. Investigators believe both husband and wife threw objects at each other, and Hyson was taken into custody long enough to be booked. He faces fourth-degree assault charges. His wife was not charged with a crime, but the police report did indicate she had a high level of alcohol in her blood...

(Some articles name him, some don't. Those who don't are protecting the victims. I'll go with protecting the victims, but so we know who we're talkin' about - his name sounds like Tennis Pecker but both words start with a "D")

"It's extremely unsettling when someone entrusted to help the community has violated that trust, so we're going to be aggressively pursuing justice in this case," said DA spokesperson Michael Jeandron...Court drops 17 of 37 charges against former DHS officerThe Desert SunJanuary 28, 2008Seventeen of 37 criminal counts have been dropped against a former Desert Hot Springs police Officer accused of molesting an underage relative over a 10-year span and her friend over a one-year period, according to his attorney. The former officer now faces 20 counts, including aggravated sex assault on a minor, rape and lewd acts, his attorney says. Opening statements are scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday... The man, who has pleaded not guilty to aggravated sexual assault on a child, rape, lewd acts with a child and other charges -- could get a life prison term if he is convicted of all 37 counts filed against him. The two alleged victims were in the Explorers Program, which allows teenagers to ride along with police and perform tasks at the station. Defense attorney John Patrick Dolan, who expects the trial to last about six weeks, said he plans to challenge the charges filed against his client "count-by-count" in his opening statement...

Alleged Victim in Officer Molestation Trial SpeaksNews Channel 3By Nathan BacaJan 28, 2008...Defense attorney John Patrick Dolan said, "There's really two separate cases here. There's the case involving one of the victims where it is suspected actual sexual relations took place over 10 years. And the only evidence of that is the statement of the alleged victim. There is no other corroborating evidence whatsoever except her statement. Then there's another part of the case which is four counts which is suggesting that certain innocent conduct which takes place at the police department with a police explorer amounted to molestation." The defense mentioned two girls names as alleged victims... "It's extremely unsettling when someone entrusted to help the community has violated that trust, so we're going to be aggressively pursuing justice in this case," said DA spokesperson Michael Jeandron...

From news in October 2006:[CA] Ofc. D____r $2M bail, 49 felony counts for sex w/own childHot Springs Police Officer Dennis D____r was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting his child and charged with 49 felony counts of sexual assault, including aggravated sexual assault of a child, and his bail was set at $2 million. "The crimes have been going on for allegedly, the last 10 years," said Ingrid Wyatt, district attorney's office. "With the same 2 female victims?" "Yes." In the divorce he filed just before he was arrested he stated he wants joint custody - with his wife - of the child he is accused of raping. He worked at the high school for two years, then went on to head the juvenile investigations unit of the police department, and was the leader of the DHS Explorer Program for youth. If convicted, the officer faces multiple life sentences. None of his immediate family members attended his arraignment. Morale at the Desert Hot Springs Police Department has taken a hit.

From news in November 2006:[CA] Officer D____r's 49 kid felonies, divorce timing, & chief is firedConcerning D____r, Deputy District Attorney Victoria Cameron stated, "If the person that you're supposed to trust is committing the crimes against you, it is one more reason that these crimes aren't discovered until sometime afterward."

From news in December 2006:[CA] Officer D____r will go to trial for sex on adopted daughter"I might be pregnant," the stepdaughter told her father, as an investigator listened in on the phone call. "There's no way that you could be pregnant. I had used a condom." Shortly after that call the Riverside County District Attorney's Office arrested D____r. District Attorney Investigator Tom Reid said that Officer D____r molested his adopted daughter in the city police station and began molesting her beginning when she was 5 or 7, and also molested another girl. Both girls are in the Explorer Program, which allows teenagers to ride along with cops and perform tasks at the station. D____r founded and supervised the local program. He is still employed by the city, but on paid administrative leave.

Winsted cop in court for arraignmentThe Register CitizenBy TRACY KENNEDY11/06/2007[Excerpts] A Winsted police officer allegedly told a doctor Sunday night that he was going to use the four knives he had with him to scare his wife... The admission reportedly caused concern among hospital staff at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and they called Torrington police. Robert Hebert, 33, was arraigned on charges of disorderly conduct and carrying a dangerous weapon in Waterbury Superior Court... He posted a $250,000 bond shortly after his arrest Sunday and appeared with his family and attorney Danielle Rado for the hearing. Judge Raymond Norko ordered Hebert to undergo an evaluation for substance abuse. Norko also issued a protective order prohibiting Hebert from going to the victim's home or employment, having any contact with her and staying at least 100 yards away. Hebert is on administrative leave... In September, his wife's attorney filed a motion requesting Hebert have no contact with her, or her co-workers and supervisors, according to court documents...

Winsted officer arrested againWaterbury Republican American, CTJanuary 29, 2008[Excerpts] A Winsted police officer free on a $250,000 bond for allegedly threatening his wife was arrested over the weekend after arguing with another woman. Robert Hebert, 33, of Terryville, was arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court Monday on charges of second-degree reckless endangerment and breach of peace. He was arrested Friday afternoon after a verbal dispute with 36-year-old Dawn Kiesel, of 187 Lovers Lane. Torrington police said they were called by neighbors around 4:20 p.m. An argument escalated when Hebert tried to leave and Kiesel grabbed the steering wheel of his car, police said. Hebert continued driving for a short distance, dragging her alongside the vehicle. She wasn't seriously hurt and was not taken to a hospital, police said. Police found Hebert, of 23 Fairview Ave. in Terryville, in the basement of Kiesel's home. He was released on a $2,500 nonsurety bond...

(In my choosing of excerpts from the article I left out the accolades for Officer Montanaro because - as always in police dv articles - there was no mention of anything kind or good that his wife Jamie ever did in her life. She ended up in the hospital, yet I read only the redemptive social value of her husband. )

Walden cop, wife, mother all charged with assaultTimes Herald-Record, NYBy Meghan E. Murphy mmurphy@th-record.comJanuary 29, 2008[Excerpts] A Walden police officer, his wife and mother were all charged with assault Saturday after a domestic dispute turned violent. State police said Officer Robert "Bobby" Montanaro, 29, visited his wife, Jamie, 27, at her Walden home Saturday and an altercation ensued. The two are legally married but living separately. Montanaro's mother, Deborah Robb, 53, accompanied her son and was also involved in the fight. Investigators said they couldn't determine that any one person involved started the physical altercation, so all three were charged. No one was seriously injured but Jamie Montanaro was taken to the hospital... Walden Chief Jeffry Holmes called the incident unfortunate and said Montanaro was put on paid administrative leave. State police were asked to handle the investigation since it involved a department officer... All three involved were issued court appearance tickets for third-degree assault, a misdemeanor.

Monday, January 28, 2008

..."Perpetrators are extremely narcissistic people," said Stehouwer, chairman of Calvin College's psychology department. "Nobody thinks about the kids. 'It's all about me. I'm all good, and you're all bad. If everybody thinks you're horrible, I win'"... These kids will experience their own form of post-traumatic stress syndrome for many years...

The aftermath after a parent kills a parentThe Grand Rapids Pressby John Agar and John TunisonSunday January 27, 2008[Excerpts] ...With his wife out of the way, [Ken] DeKleine, a Holland police officer, allegedly told investigators he could have the children to himself... The DeKleine case is among about a dozen high-profile slayings in recent years in which parents allegedly killed an estranged or ex-partner - killings that left children the ultimate victims... These children face a possible lifetime of hurt, anger, distrust, even, in some cases, undeserved feelings of guilt as they grow up without those they relied upon the most. Few can identify with such loss and betrayal. The stigma is enormous in a period of life in which conformity is valued. "There are three things going on that make this just what I call a 'triple whammy' for the kids," psychologist R. Scott Stehouwer said. "No. 1, your mom dies. No. 2, she was murdered. No. 3, your dad did it. To the kids, it's an absolute numbing. It just sort of levels you." They are essentially orphaned, and the world they once knew ends in an instant. Police, protective services and extended family take over. "We try to get them with family as soon as possible," Allegan County sheriff's Detective Chris Koster said. "When you've got a murder-suicide, you got two sets of grandparents. How do you choose the best one? What (dynamics) of the family are going on? With young kids crying for somebody, that's the person we're generally trying to find." Children are not a consideration for parents who kill. Parents act out of intense hatred for the ex-spouse. "Perpetrators are extremely narcissistic people," said Stehouwer, chairman of Calvin College's psychology department. "Nobody thinks about the kids. 'It's all about me. I'm all good, and you're all bad. If everybody thinks you're horrible, I win.' If you really were concerned about the kids, this is the last thing you would do," Stehouwer said... For the children, it takes time just to comprehend what happened. They need a long time to heal, with support from the community, including church and school, to know they can have a normal life. It is important they not be stigmatized... Allegan County Sheriff Blaine Koops said these "true victims must carry this burden for their entire life. In fact, in many cases, because of unresolved psychological trauma, many of the children will pass the trauma on to their children -- thus making it intergenerational. So now, not only must we deal with the immediate emotional trauma, the long-term consequences are even more devastating. These kids will experience their own form of post-traumatic stress syndrome for many years." In some cases, family divisions -- the victim's family on one side, the suspect's on the other -- create problems for the kids. Others come together... Family has come together in the aftermath of the November murder-suicide by Brainard, the Plainwell police officer. He shot and killed his wife, Pam, then himself. Family friends said she planned to divorce him. Left behind were their 2-year-old daughter, Kayla, and her 15-year-old son, Kyle... It is difficult to understand how a police officer skilled in handling domestic violence failed to recognize the impact on the children. "He had to be trained on what the children go through," [Pam Brainard's sister, Jennifer] Drake said. "He should have thought of the children and looked at what he was doing to an innocent baby and a fine young man." Christopher DeKleine, 16, and his sister, Breanne DeKleine, 18, are the latest victims. Their father, the 13-year Holland police officer, allegedly hid in the attic until the kids left for school, then strangled their mother. The son found his mother. "When he closes his eyes, he's always going to see that. I still see my parents on the floor," said Susan Murphy-Milano, who became a nationally recognized advocate for battered women after her father, a Chicago police detective, killed her mother in January 1989, then killed himself...

Police: Officer Shot Man, HerselfWBALTVJanuary 28, 2008Authorities on Monday continued to investigate what they believe is an attempted murder-suicide involving a Prince George's police officer. Police said 38-year-old Officer Tora Coates shot the man she lived with inside their Waldorf home at about 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Detectives believe she then turned the gun on herself. The 45-year-old man was able to call police despite being shot several times. He is listed in critical condition. Coates was pronounced dead at the scene. Coates worked in the department's internal affairs unit and had previously served as a spokeswoman for the Prince George’s County Police Department. She was not on duty at the time of the shooting.Off-Duty Officer Suspected in Attempted Murder-SuicideWJLAJanuary 28, 2008 - Waldorf, Md.[Excerpts] ...The Charles County Sheriff's Office says the officer, 38-year-old Tora Lynn Coates, apparently shot the man and then shot herself. Investigators believe the two lived at the home together. The 45-year-old man is in critical condition at a hospital... "He was laying outside the door, part of his body inside and the other part out," said neighbor Vickie Murphy... Neighbors say there had been no previous signs of problems with the couple. "I just seen them Friday, both of them getting into their truck," recalled Murphy. "And we waved to each other and I was just saying, 'They look like such a loving couple' and then this"...

3 Shots and he's still alive!Prince Georges County Cop Shoots Man, Kills Self St. Mary's Today OnlineJanuary 27, 2008[Excerpts] Charles County Sheriff's Maj. Joe Montminy reports to ST. MARY'S TODAY that a shooting at the home of a Prince George's County police officer was domestic related and that the person who the officer attempted to kill with a gun was still alive but the officer took her own life... First reports were that the officer shot the man in the posterior, the hip and the shoulder... Sgt. Tora Coates was the sister of former Calvert County Sheriff Vonzell Ward and had been a spokeswoman for PG police and most recently was assigned to the Internal Affairs Unit for professional responsibility. She was well regarded in police circles as being a top officer, according to FOP President Rodney Bartlett.

If you have any information about this shooting, please call Memphis Crime Stoppers at (901) 528-CASH....Investigators have no suspects in custody and are still on the scene questioning potential witnesses...

Memphis police officer shot to death at homecommercialappeal.comBy Bret WeaverJanuary 28, 2008Lt. Ed Vidulich, 51, of the Memphis Police Harbor Patrol was found shot to death early Monday morning. He was discovered after midnight in his home in the 3400 block of Shilo Street in Frayser. His car was found several blocks away in the 1600 block of Winston Drive and had been set on fire, according to Memphis Police. Investigators have no suspects in custody and are still on the scene questioning potential witnesses...

Updated 7:08 a.m.:Memphis Police Officer Found Shot And Killed In FrayserEyewitness News MemphisLast Update: 7:10 amAn off-duty Memphis Police Officer was found shot and killed in his home in Frayser. It happened in the 3400 block of Shilo in Frayser near North Watkins. Police say they were called to the scene of a burning car in the 1600 block of Winston around midnight, Monday, January 28, 2008. According to investigators, that car belonged to Lieutenant Ed Vidulich. Detectives say when police arrived at the officer’s home, they found him shot to death in his kitchen. Police do not yet know why the officer was shot... Investigators say his wife was at work at the time of the shooting.

Note: Posting Lt. Vidulich's slaying here is not to indicate family foul play but because the suspect is still at large.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

...for the second time in 13 months, Batavia police are dealing with an almost identical tragedy... Batavia police Officer Carl Ensign, 43, a 19-year department veteran, died Tuesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound...

Batavia turns to expertKane County Chronicle, IL -By ERIC SCHELKOPF - eschelkopf@kcchronicle.comJan 23, 2008[Excerpts] In the wake of the Batavia Police Department’s second suicide within 13 months, the department plans to bring in a national expert to provide police suicide awareness training... Batavia police Officer Carl Ensign, 43, a 19-year department veteran, died Tuesday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found in the parking lot in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve in Wayne... Ensign is the second Batavia police officer to kill himself in the past 13 months. In December 2006, Batavia police Sgt. Mike Rappley took his own life at his home in Sycamore...

Another all-too-familiar tragedy for Batavia policeAurora Beacon News, ILBy TIM WAGNER twagner@scn1.comJanuary 24, 2008[Excerpts] ... And for the second time in 13 months, Batavia police are dealing with an almost identical tragedy. In December 2006, Sgt. Mike Rappley, 48, died from a self-inflicted gunshot at his Sycamore home. "This is the second time in 13 months... I don't know what to tell you about how we cope," [Batavia Police Cmdr. Gregory] Thrun said. "The department must continue its commitment to the police service and come to work every day. Police are a tight family." Soon after his death, Mike Rappley's widow met with members of the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association and told them about the post-traumatic stress disorder her husband endured since 1992. Char Rappley asked the Kane County group to consider bringing in a police suicide awareness training program that the national foundation offers as a way to deal with the issues that plague cops... Limited funding has prevented the Kane County Chiefs of Police Association from implementing suicide awareness training, but Char Rappley believes the state ultimately will finance the program. "(Haley) is saying, 'Let's get this going, let's move forward,'" she said. "It's sad to say that it took another police officer for all this to happen. The situation is dire."

OBITUARY:Carl Victor EnsignChicago Suburban Daily Herald1/25/2008[Excerpts] Carl Victor Ensign of North Aurora Funeral services for Carl Victor Ensign, 43, will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 28, at Geneva Lutheran Church, 301 South Third St., Geneva, where he will lie in state from 10 a.m. until the time of the service... Born Aug. 1, 1964, in San Francisco, he passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008. Carl was united in marriage to Jennifer Mohr on April 29, 1989... Carl was a 19-year veteran of the Batavia Police Department... Carl gave to the community in so many ways he was a true advocate for helping teens and was most recently the D.A.R.E. officer... Memorial contributions may be directed to the Carl V. Ensign Memorial Fund, c/o Old Second Bank, 1991 West Wilson St., Batavia, IL 60510. The memorial will benefit Carl's daughter Meghan's college education. For information, 630-879-7900.

Dodge City murder charge upgradedAssociated PressJan. 24, 2008Prosecutors have upgraded the murder charge against a former Dodge City police officer accused of killing his ex-girlfriend. Ford County Attorney John Sauer upgraded the charge from second-degree to first-degree murder just before a preliminary hearing Tuesday, during which [Christopher] Chris Tahah was bound over for trial in the May 5 death of Erin Jones. Tahah also is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied dwelling...Tahah showed little emotion during Tuesday's hearing, which featured testimony from several investigators and friends of Jones. Ford County Attorney John Sauer also played a videotaped interview... During the interview, Tahah recounted waiting for Jones outside her home, saying he didn't mean to shoot his gun. "I was telling myself this was no good. As I was lowering the gun, a round went off," Tahah said. Tahah also told Kendrick that he was upset with Jones because she did not give him a good reason for breaking up with him the month before. Tahah also said he went to Jones' house after seeing her at a bar dancing with another man. "How'd she hurt you, Chris?" Kendrick asked Tahah. "I think I know." "I wanted to be her guy," Tahah said... Jones, who worked as a bank teller in Dodge City, had two children. She was known in Dodge City for her performances with the Homestead Theater.[police officer involved domestic violence oidv intimate partner violence ipv abuse law enforcement public safety lethal fatality fatalities murder kansas state politics]

Kovacich murder case postponed yet againAuburn Journal, CAThursday, January 25, 2008A case of murder against a former Placer County Sheriff sergeant has once again been postponed. Paul R. Kovacich Jr., of Foresthill, was in a Placer County courtroom Thursday along with his public defender John Spurling. A motion has reportedly been filed by the defense to continue the trial that had been tentatively scheduled to begin in March... Kovacich was arrested Sept. 6, 2006 and charged with the 1982 murder of his young wife, Janet Kovacich. A partial skull, found at Rollins Lake, was determined by the California Department of Justice to belong to Janet Kovacich. The prosecution contends that a small hole in the skull cap is consistent with a bullet hole...

Judge withdraws from murder trialSacramento Bee, USAArt CamposJanuary 25, 2008A judge who has presided over some of Placer County's high-profile criminal cases in recent years disqualified himself Thursday from the upcoming trial for Paul R. Kovacich Jr., a former sheriff's sergeant accused of having murdered his 27-year-old wife in 1982. Superior Court Judge Larry D. Gaddis withdrew after Kovacich's attorney, John Spurling of the Placer County Public Defender's Office, filed a motion to have Gaddis disqualified on the belief that the judge is prejudiced against his client. Reasons or actual proof for such a belief does not have to be stated in such a motion... It was the second time an attorney for Kovacich had successfully filed a declaration of prejudice against a judge chosen to preside over the defendant's trial...

A Stoughton police officer who faces domestic assault and battery and witness intimidation charges was treated just like anyone else who gets arrested, said Police Chief Donald Clark... A woman called police and said Smith threw her to the floor, has been verbally abusive and she feared for her safety. Smith fled... They used a police dog to find him...Officers seized two 12-gauge shotguns, a rifle, a .380-caliber pistol and ammunition... Bail was set at $40. Smith was told he needed a sober ride and ordered not to stay at his home for the rest of the night... Clark said the $40 bail is standard for domestic assault...

Stoughton cop arrested on W.B. domestic assault chargeThe Enterprise, MA -By Mike Melanson, Enterprise correspondentJanuary 25, 2008A Stoughton police officer faces domestic assault and battery charges after West Bridgewater police and a Bridgewater police K-9 unit apprehended him early Sunday morning, police said. Officer Michael Winkler arrested and charged Bryan C. Smith, 41, of 418 Forest St., West Bridgewater, with assault and battery and intimidating a witness after a 12:15 a.m. Sunday call reported a domestic disturbance at his residence. A woman called police and said Smith threw her to the floor, has been verbally abusive and she feared for her safety. Smith fled when officer Michael Winkler and Sgt. Gregory Ames responded to the residence. Police found and arrested Smith about 30 minutes after the call, police said. Officers seized two 12-gauge shotguns, a rifle, a .380-caliber pistol and ammunition from the residence. Bail was set at $40...[Full article here]

Stoughton cop faces domestic assault chargeThe Patriot LedgerBy MIKE MELANSONJanuary 25, 2008...West Bridgewater officers reported that Smith ran out of the house when they arrived in cruisers. They used a police dog to find him about 30 minutes later. Smith was hiding under a trailer in a neighbor’s yard, West Bridgewater Chief Donald Clark said...[Full article here]

Chief: Cop treated same as any other suspectOfficer charged with assault, intimidationThe Patriot LedgerBy MIKE MELANSONJanuary 26, 2008A Stoughton police officer who faces domestic assault and battery and witness intimidation charges was treated just like anyone else who gets arrested, said Police Chief Donald Clark. "What is the preferential treatment? We arrested him. We processed this like any other case. We covered nothing up. He went to court like anyone else" Clark said. Stoughton Police Officer Brian C. Smith, 41, was arraigned at Brockton District Court on Tuesday on charges of domestic assault and battery and intimidating a witness. Pleas of not guilty were entered... Smith was placed on paid leave and turned over his badge and gun pending the outcome of the case... Bail was set at $40. Smith was told he needed a sober ride and ordered not to stay at his home for the rest of the night... Clark said the $40 bail is standard for domestic assault and battery charges... Smith was charged with two counts of assault and battery in connection with a June 1995 incident in West Bridgewater, but the charges were dismissed at the request of the victim...[Full article here]

Stoughton chief: Cop's arrest not a blemishThe EnterpriseBy Mike Melanson and Allan SteinJanuary 27, 2008...Acting Police Chief Christopher Ciampa said he was "shocked and surprised and saddened" by the arrest of Brian C. Smith, 41, of 418 Forest St., West Bridgewater, who was arraigned at Brockton District Court on Tuesday. But Ciampa called the arrest an "isolated incident," unrelated to the charges against the other officers, and he said he does not view it as another blemish on the department. "I would hope that people would not look at the last three years, and (instead) see what we have done in here and what we have accomplished," Ciampa said. "Don't paint us with the same brush. It's an unfortunate situation and (being) well-handled, in the appropriate manner"... Smith will continue to receive a patrolman's base salary of $47,800 until the charges against him are resolved. If convicted, Smith would be unable to hold a license to carry a firearm and therefore would be unable to fulfill his duties as a police officer... [Trial attorney Bruce] Raphel said Smith's release on personal recognizance by a judge confirms that Smith was given no preferential treatment. "It shouldn't be held against someone if a charge is made and the person is found not guilty or the charge is dismissed, in my opinion," he said. "He's innocent until proven guilty"...[Full article here]

Saturday, January 26, 2008

...It took more than an hour to read all the charges against Officer Durgin... Durgin has also been arrested three times for a variety of charges including larceny, worker's compensation fraud and tampering with and intimidation of a witness...

[CT] Woman-tracking Officer Durgin arrested for 3rd time- ...arrested on felony computer crimes in October 2007 - for looking up women on police database computers- including his ex-girlfriends, ex-wife, her family, her current man, his own current girlfriend, and women he wanted to date...

(Note: Interesting that Durgin is now being fired because there was an illusion of him being fired last October, when he was "removed from the force." Now we know the difference.)

Second Madison officer fired for misconductBoston GlobeJanuary 25, 2008Madison officials have fired a second police officer who was caught up in an internal affairs investigation into misconduct, including alleged encounters with prostitutes. Police commissioners voted 5-0 Friday to terminate Officer Bernard Durgin, who is one of four town officers accused of consorting with prostitutes dozens of times over the course of a year while on duty. Durgin was charged in the internal investigation with conduct unbecoming an officer and violating his oath of office...

Another Madison officer goes before police commissionWTNH, CTPosted Jan. 25, 2008...Officer Bernard Durgin faced a laundry list of charges stemming from an internal investigation. The panel decided to fire him for violating his oath of office and conduct unbecoming of an officer. The results of the investigation claim that Durgin had met with known, convicted felons and that he'd helped to establish a motorcycle gang in New Haven called "The Poor Boys". It took more than an hour to read all the charges against Officer Durgin and the details of this case. "In this particular case the officer's behavior was awful and the evidence was overwhelming," said the chairman of the police commission, Emil Geisenheimer. Officer Durgin has also been arrested three times for a variety of charges including larceny, worker's compensation fraud and tampering with and intimidation of a witness...

Assault 'devastated' officer's familyWife describes Jan. 10 events at sentencing hearing.South Bend TribuneDEBRA HAIGHTJanuary 25th, 2008[Excerpts] The Jan. 10 incident in which former Niles police officer Chris Clark assaulted his wife devastated their family, his wife told a Berrien County Trial judge this week. Berrien County Assistant Prosecutor Kelly Travis said Clark's wife, Victoria, spoke in court before the sentencing Wednesday. She said the situation had devastated her family and that Clark needed to address his alcohol problem and find help. Since Chris Clark said he can't remember the incident, Clark's wife asked for -- and the court ordered -- that the 911 tape be played during the sentencing so Clark could hear how the incident had affected her and her son, Travis said. Clark, 36, had been suspended from the Niles police department when the incident occurred and has since resigned. He pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic-violence charge this week and was sentenced to 90 days on tether.... He was charged with both domestic violence against his wife and possession of a firearm while under the influence. The latter charge was dismissed Wednesday as part of a plea agreement, Travis said... Clark must serve 12 months probation and pay $360 in supervision fees and $550 in fines and costs. He must also pay up to $3,000 restitution to cover the medical bills his wife incurred as a result of the injuries she suffered in the assault. Travis said Clark must take a domestic-violence inventory to see what, if any, substance-abuse or anger-management treatment he needs. He was placed on a curfew, ordered to have no contact with his wife and son, and to possess no firearms...

...the molested boy spoke about how his life has been ruined by what's happened to him. "I also want to talk about the life sentence, the life sentence that I have. They'll get a certain number of years. I will get a lifetime of trials and tribulations," the victim told the judge...

(The crimes took place while Tacoma Police Officer Lee Giles was representing his department in the schools and news.)

Child-sex case sends girlfriend to prisonLawyer says woman ‘also is … a victim’SEAN ROBINSONPublished: January 26th, 2008[Excerpts] Maureen Elizabeth Wear, who once worked to tamp down crime in Tacoma neighborhoods, was sentenced Friday to 19 years, eight months in prison for child rape and child molestation. The victims were relatives of Wear and her longtime boyfriend, Lee William Giles Jr., a retired Tacoma police officer. The boy and two girls were abused from 1995 to 2006... The court file of Wear’s case includes letters from people who praised her work with Safe Streets, a nonprofit agency that helps neighbors fight crime. Some of the letters from relatives and friends said Wear, 47, committed her crimes in part because Giles manipulated her and she was too devoted to refuse... “Ms. Wear is also indeed a victim,” said her attorney, Brett Purtzer. “Unfortunately, she was also engaged in the wrongful conduct.” He was arguing for a lower sentence, but he knew the effort was fruitless. Purtzer was fighting against his own agreement. Terms of the sentence were part of the plea bargain Wear accepted months earlier. “Can you give me a reason?” [Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan] Chushcoff asked. Purtzer shrugged. “Your honor, I can’t answer your question,” he said. Chushcoff turned to Wear and asked if she wanted to say anything before he pronounced the sentence. Wear didn’t. “I would, but I don’t think I can,” she said, then referred to the television crews and cameras whirring behind her. “Cameras and newspapers, exposing my family to more grief.” Chushcoff gave Wear a quick look. “It is a public courtroom,” he said. “They have a right to be here.”... Maybe it was true that Wear was “under some sort of spell” cast by Giles, Chushcoff said. The judge had seen Giles in earlier hearings. “He is an extremely charming person,” Chushcoff said – but he added that Wear should have resisted. The crimes were awful, the suffering of the victims profound, and Wear knew it... “Ms. Wear did bring this on herself by not saying no and not taking personal responsibility. She was the adult here. She had the power to say no to Mr. Giles. It may have been difficult, but we expect it”...

Giles' accomplice gets 20 years for child rapeKOMOBy Keith EldridgeJan 25, 2008[Excerpts] ...During [ex-Tacoma Police Officer Lee] Giles' sentencing three weeks ago, the molested boy spoke about how his life has been ruined by what's happened to him. "I also want to talk about the life sentence, the life sentence that I have. They'll get a certain number of years. I will get a lifetime of trials and tribulations," the victim told the judge... Wear's family said they believe Giles enticed her into this activity. While they support her, they said they cannot condone what she's done.

...DeKleine hatched a plan in December to kill her, then earlier this month went to her house in the middle of the night, lifted the garage door to get in, and hid in the attic above the garage in freezing temperatures until his teenage children left about 7:45 a.m. When they did leave, he emerged, strangled Lori DeKleine with the strap during a struggle in the kitchen, then dragged her body into the basement and staged a scene to look like a suicide...

Wife to Holland cop: 'Think about the kids' WOOD TV- Grand Rapids MIJan 25, 2008 09:22 AM CSTUpdated: Jan 25, 2008 05:10 PM CSTBy JOE LaFURGEY[Excerpts] Lori DeKleine's last words to her husband were, "Think about the kids." Her husband, Holland Police officer Ken DeKleine, replied, "I am thinking about the children." This information came to light at DeKleine's preliminary exam for the murder of his wife, and his attempts to make it look like a suicide. It was also revealed he'd thought about killing her for nearly a year... DeKleine admitted he'd been planning to murder his wife since January 31, 2007. But it wasn't until early December 2007 he actually formulated a plan. Michigan State Police Detective Sgt. Gary Miles testifed the day of the murder, DeKleine crawled up into the attic space above the garage and waited for his children to leave for school. He crawled down and confronted his wife. He used a gray strap to strangle her in the kitchen, and a fight ensued. She bit his lip severely, and blood got all over her clothes and his. Her last words were, "Think about the kids." He replied, "I am thinking about the children"... He disposed of some of the bloody clothes and went to a Med Center to get his lip sewn up. "He then went across the street or somewhere in the area to a McDonald's, bought himself a chocolate shake," Miles testified. DeKleine then returned to work at the Holland Police Department around 3:45 p.m. Divorce records obtained by 24 Hour News 8 shed light on DeKleine's frame of mind. He expressed concerns over his wife's mental stability and her ability to provide their two teenage children with a safe and stable home. In the custody petition, DeKleine claims his wife suffered from mental illness and had attempted suicide. He also insinuates his wife was having an affair with a therapist she was seeing. DeKleine, who is currently on an emergency unpaid suspension from the police department will next be in court on February 4, at which time a trial date will be set...

[Excerpts] The wife of a Holland police officer, found dead. Her husband, the officer, is charged with murder. A 13 year-veteran of the Holland police is in the Ottawa County jail Friday night on charges of open murder. Investigators with the Michigan State Police and Ottawa County Sheriff's Department say he killed his wife. Detectives arrested Officer Ken DeKleine Friday evening after an investigation that started Thursday night and continued all day Friday... One of he and his wife Lori's two teenage children found their mom dead in the basement and called 911. The police chief says the couple had been separated for some time and were in the process of getting a divorce. He says Officer DeKleine was on duty Thursday night when that emergency call came in. Officer DeKleine was participating in a training exercise. The chief could not say how Lori DeKleine died or when she died. Initially detectives thought Lori had killed herself...

[Excerpts] Officer Ken DeKleine first thought of murdering his wife the day she took out a restraining order against him. He carried out the plan earlier this month by hiding in the separated couple's attic overnight before he attacked her with a climbing strap and rubber gloves, a detective testified this morning. Michigan State Police Detective Gary Miles said DeKleine confessed to killing Lori DeKleine, telling him Lori DeKleine told him to "think of the kids" as he was strangling her with the strap. He replied to her: "I am thinking of the kids," said Miles, recounting DeKleine's confession. Miles said DeKleine told him he "wanted to cause her death and kill her. He hoped to get away with it so he could spend his life with his children without her"... DeKleine hatched a plan in December to kill her, then earlier this month went to her house in the middle of the night, lifted the garage door to get in, and hid in the attic above the garage in freezing temperatures until his teenage children left about 7:45 a.m. When they did leave, he emerged, strangled Lori DeKleine with the strap during a struggle in the kitchen, then dragged her body into the basement and staged a scene to look like a suicide, police said. DeKleine, whose shirt was bloody after Lori DeKleine bit his lip, tossed his sweatshirt and his shoes out the window as he drove to his apartment, Miles said. He hid Lori DeKleine's shirt, which he also removed because it was stained with his blood, in her home's attic...